Plans, Elevations & Poor Decisions
What architect designed Fallingwater, the famous house built over a waterfall in Pennsylvania?
Frank Lloyd Wright
In wetland delineation, what three parameters must typically be present for an area to be classified as a jurisdictional wetland under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers methodology?
Hydrophytic vegetation, hydric soils, and wetland hydrology
What does the acronym “ADT” stand for in traffic engineering?
Average Daily Traffic
What does the “ALTA” in an ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey stand for?
American Land Title Association
Which Spanish architect and engineer is known for designing the Oculus Transportation Hub in New York City, the Milwaukee Art Museum’s wing-like addition, and many futuristic white bridges that resemble skeletons or birds in flight?
Santiago Calatrava
What federally listed bat species commonly affects project timelines and tree-clearing restrictions across Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New York?
Indiana bat (bonus acceptable answer: Northern long-eared bat)
What stormwater management practice is specifically designed to allow runoff to soak into the ground and recharge groundwater?
Infiltration basin (acceptable: infiltration trench)
In surveying, what is the term for a fixed reference point with known coordinates and elevation used for measurements?
Benchmark
What is the name of the horizontal beam that sits above a door or window opening and supports the weight above it?
Lintel
In wastewater treatment, what process uses microorganisms to break down organic matter in sewage?
Activated sludge process (or biological treatment)
What is the name of the sloped area alongside a roadway designed to collect and convey stormwater runoff?
Swale (or drainage swale)
What surveying technology uses lasers to rapidly collect millions of 3D data points and create detailed surface models?
LiDAR
Which ancient civilization is credited with developing the arch, aqueduct, and concrete into major architectural innovations?
The Romans
In soil science, what soil texture class contains the highest percentage of clay particles and is typically associated with poor drainage and slow infiltration rates?
Clay soil
What roadway feature is specifically intended to reduce vehicle speeds while improving safety at intersections by creating a circular traffic pattern?
Roundabout
What piece of surveying equipment measures horizontal and vertical angles and is commonly used for construction layout and boundary surveys?
Total station
What is the most dangerous phrase a client can say during the final design review?
“Can we just move this wall a little?”
What is the unofficial environmental consultant motto when someone asks if a site has wetlands before the delineation is complete?
“It depends.”
What is the universal engineering phrase that usually means “we have absolutely no idea why this worked, but don’t touch it”?
“Temporary fix” (acceptable: “good enough,” “field fit,” or “we’ll come back later”)
What is the unofficial first step in almost every boundary dispute?
Someone saying, “Well the old fence was always the property line.”